MONROVIA – The Civil Law Court of Montserrado County has issued a writ of possession in favor of Martha Stubblefield Barnard, directing the eviction of the former ruling Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) from a disputed property which has served as the party’s headquarters for nearly two decades. The pending eviction stems from a longstanding lease agreement.
Report by Garmah Lomo and Blamo N. Toe
The order to evict was issued on March 7, 2024. The Liberian Investigator gathered that there have been renewed efforts by aggrieved family members to enforce this order and establish Barnard as the new administrator of the property.
The CDC has occupied the Barnard property for decades under a lease agreement that has recently come under dispute by opposing family factions. In 2015, the case escalated to the Supreme Court of Liberia when the CDC failed to pay $50,000 in rent owed to its landlords, resulting in a court mandate to settle the debt.
The resolution of the rent dispute subsequently led to a legal battle over the property’s ownership between two branches of the family currently claiming rights to the property.
CDC Chairman Jangar Kowo, speaking to journalists at the Temple of Justice on Thursday, insisted that the party is seeking justice concerning their grievances filed before Judge Golda Bonah Elliott. Kowo expressed that the party perceives the legal challenges as politically motivated but remains determined to pursue legal redress.
Kowo stated that the CDC does not claim ownership of the property and expressed confusion over the party’s inclusion in the writ for possession. He maintained that the party has consistently complied with its financial obligations, stating, “The CDC has consistently paid rent to the Bernard family, the legitimate administrators of Martha Stubblefield Bernard’s estate.”
Meanwhile, the National Youth League of the CDC has threatened that any attempt by the Unity Party regime to use the judiciary to invade its national headquarters will jeopardize President Joseph Boakai’s “fragile” presidency, government, and democracy in the country.
Alvin Wesseh, at a major news conference on Wednesday, September 11, claimed that the youth league through its Bureau of Intelligence got sensitive information about the alleged plans of the Boakai-Koung government to use legal means to displace the party.
According to him, the government, having failed in previous attempts to achieve its mission against the party, now seeks to use the judiciary as the only alternative left to target the CDC; a move he emphasized that the party and its leaders, members, and sympathizers are firmly prepared to resist politically.
“Having failed in the recent attack on the headquarters of the CDC by bringing in hooligans and murderers posing as officers of the Liberia National Police who teargassed our partisans here at the headquarters, the last attack is to use the judiciary to take the headquarters of the CDC, but we are ready and not backing down,” Mr. Wesseh stressed.
He further warned President Joseph Nyuma Boakai that the execution of the alleged plan to invade the CDC headquarters will threaten his regime, as well as the democracy and peace of the country.
The National Youth League Chair also stated that despite the CDC’s commitment to upholding the tenets of modern democracy, peace, and stability in the governance system of Liberia, the party will not compromise its constitutional rights. “We will protect our rights and Mr. Boakai must be aware of this; there is no joke because we’re prepared.”
Mr. Wesseh called on the international community, including the United States government, to be aware of the UP government’s alleged plans to silence critical voices against its “bad governance,” adding that President Boakai will have to choose between gambling his presidency or staying away from the CDC.
Additionally, the CDC National Youth League urged all partisans to assemble effectively at the party’s headquarters on Saturday, September 14, 2024. Mr. Wesseh disclosed that the party’s national executive committee will have a mass emergency meeting with the partisans to determine the party’s next course of action.
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